Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak Guidance

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) continues to work with Maryland’s local health departments, other states, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate cases of Salmonella Typhimurium infection that are potentially linked to peanut butter produced by the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). The investigation is ongoing, but DHMH reminds residents and visitors to be mindful of the recent CDC and FDA advice to consumers about peanut butter-containing products.  

FDA and CDC recommend the following: 

1. Do not eat - and throw away - any recalled PCA peanut butter or PCA peanut butter-containing products. The list of recalled products is available at the following site: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/salmonellatyph.html#recalls

FDA will continue to update that list. 

2. For other peanut butter-containing products, like cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream, FDA suggests that consumers may wish to check the manufacturer’s Website or call appropriate toll-free numbers listed on the product packaging to determine whether that product potentially contains implicated PCA peanut butter. If a consumer is unable to determine whether a peanut butter-containing product like those listed is free of the implicated PCA peanut butter, CDC and FDA recommend that consumers postpone eating such products until more information becomes available. 

3. At this time, there is no indication that any national name brand jars of peanut butter sold in retail stores, like grocery stores, are linked to the PCA recall.    

For additional information about this Salmonella Typhimurium situation, visit the following Websites: 

CDC:    http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium/

FDA:    http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/MajorProductRecalls/Peanut/default.htm